LG Innotek developed a ‘high-performance hybrid lens for autonomous driving. It applied plastic lenses to reduce the size and raise price competitiveness. With this development, LG Innotek is expected to gain an edge in the global autonomous driving camera module market.
The two kinds of hybrid lenses developed by LG Innotek are ones for Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) and ones for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Alternating layers of thin plastic and glass were applied inside the lens to improve performance. Existing lenses for autonomous driving are made of glass, which doesn’t change from temperature or external forces.
LG Innotek is the first in the world to realize high-performance through the application of plastic in ADAS lenses.
LG Innotek used plastic to reduce the size of the lenses, as well as improve performance and cost competitiveness. Lenses on the market are made of glass, making them thick and the cost of their raw materials expensive. Client companies are now able to expand their options with the lenses developed by LG Innotek.
LG Innotek’s high-performance hybrid lenses are around 20~30% thinner than all-glass products. As they became thinner, it expanded the range of freedom their clients had in designing the exterior and interior of their cars. They maintain consistent performance regardless of temperature, and accurate recognize objects.
A spokesman for LG Innotek explained that, “As more sensing devices are equipped as the level of autonomous driving increases, it is important to reduce the size of individual parts.”
They were also able to improve cost competitiveness. This is because they used plastic, which is comparatively cheaper than glass. LG Innotek is now able to provide high-performance products at a more reasonable price to their clients. Car parts companies and finished car companies are now able to install more cameras for the same cost to improve their autonomous driving sensing capabilities.
LG Innotek is planning to lead with their high-performance hybrid lenses to actively target the global automotive camera module market. They are actively conducting promotions to their client companies in the US, Europe, Japan, and Korea. LG Innotek is soon to begin mass production of camera modules equipped lenses for DMS.
Min-seok Kang, the CTO, said that, “Being able to successfully develop lenses, which are difficult to design and test, in a short period of time is a big accomplishment for innovation for client experiences,” and said that, “LG Innotek’s high-performance hybrid lenses, which overcome the limitations of plastic through innovative technology, will create a great sensation in the market.”
According to the global market research institution, Strategy Analytics, the global market for cameras for autonomous driving is projected to grow from 4.2 trillion KRW in 2021 to 7.9 trillion KRW by 2025, growing at an average annual rate of 17%.
By Staff Reporter So-ra Park (srpark@etnews.com)